‘Climate Question Time’ Event at Thomas Hardye school

I have been asked to remind people of the WEST DORSET ‘Climate Question Time’ Event at Thomas Hardye school this coming Friday. Please forward to your networks especially NOPE and WPTT. The details as originally agreed are as below. However since then Oliver Letwin has made representations to include the Green party, and invitations are being extended invitations to the UKIP and Green candidates. This could change the format somewhat.

Questions on South Dorset issues such as the biofuels power plant on Portland are welcome.

The South Dorset event in the Ocean Room on Sat 24th hangs in the balance. We need commitment from Jim Knight or Richard Drax by noon tomorrow.

This is a copy of the original details of the West Dorset event shared with the 3 originally invited candidates on 14th March:

The event will be advertised as ‘Climate Question Time’.

The panel will be : Oliver Letwin MP, Sue Farrant and Steve Bick.
(After some debate the alliance has decided to concentrate on the three highest polling parties in the last election, to allow time for a more in-depth discussion.)

We have chosen Alistair Chisholm as the chairman. His knowledge of environmental issues will allow him to distinguish the relevant question from the trivial. He has the experience of successfully chairing a number of large meetings in the area. His role as Dorchester Town-crier means that he has a high profile locally, distinct from party politics.

The venue: Thomas Hardye School, Sixth Form Centre
Parking is at the Leisure Centre. Access is from Coburg Road only. (The school is closed) The entrance will be clearly signposted.

Time:
Friday 16th April
7:30 until approx 9:00 pm
We will attempt a punctual start.
(We will be there from about 6:00 and doors open to the public at 7:00) Please join us as early as you want.

Proposed format:

Candidates will have 5 minutes to state their position.
Then we will move to pre-selected questions.
We are planning to give people a card at the door to enter their name and a question.
Alistair and I will prioritise a few questions relating to climate change as a national policy issue – some possibly with a local angle.
(4 areas the alliance want covered in some way are:
What is your party’s plan to make sure that Britain makes the emissions cuts required under the Climate Change Act?(34% by 2020, 80% by 2050)
What will you do to encourage transition to renewable energy in the UK?
What is your position on airport expansion?
How would your party raise the crucial international finance required to reach a global climate deal?)
The audience will have the chance to ask direct ‘hands up’ follow-up questions to challenge and extend the candidates’ responses.The chairman will confine the audience to questions relating to climate change.
We will finish on a general pre-selected question that will allow candidates to briefly summarise important points.

Recording: We are planning to record the meeting, certainly audio and possibly video.
We are hoping that local media will be represented.

Publicity: We will of course be doing our best to advertise the event locally. We would appreciate it if you also mention the event on your website/ in your newsletter etc.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with queries or concerns.
We are looking forward to this opportunity to have a focussed discussion on the subject of climate change.